Gear Geek: New Balance Vongo


Men's: 9.7oz
Women's 8.25oz

The newest member of New Balance's FreshFoam series, the Vongo, brings light-weight stability into the equation. Utilizing inherent structure instead of traditional dual-density posting, the Vongo's overstuffed midsole, supportive upper, and outsole guide the foot through toe-off. Its style closely mirrors other FreshFoam models, which helps tie the line together and solidify the series.

Upper: 
The saddle and heel are reinforced with an overlay designed to work with the foot and help it settle into the clutch of the shoe. The balanced materials eliminate issues related to binding, while the one-piece construction reduces seams and bulk. 

Midsole:
Overstuffing the medial side with structured volume and a flared-out base provides support to prevent the foot from over-pronating. The lateral parts of the shoe allows for greater compression and protects the foot from crashing upon contact. The design denotes a 980 feel with FreshFoam mapping.

Outsole:
A stiff, rubber compound lines the medial side. It works like most high-abrasion rubber systems, which are designed to be more structured and responsive. A clear color line displays the material with a wishbone groove that starts from the heel and ends mid-arch. On the other side, there's a softer, more flexible compound. The wishbone slit allow the systems to flex independently while absorbing pressure from the foot along the gait cycle.

It's great that the FreshFoam series is offering a system for stability, but I wouldn't consider this a high-volume shoe. Weighing in just under the 10oz mark, the Vongo would serve as most runners' light-weight option. This is a shoe to pair with the 860 for the time being.